The aim of this study was the preparation of polyethylene oxide (PEO)/clay nanocomposites using organoclay produced via micellar adsorption of cethyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and their characterisation by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, and the investigation of certain mechanical properties of the composites. The results show that the basal dista...

Self-healing materials are smart materials with the capability to repair itself autonomously after being damaged. Since cracks commonly occur in structures consisting of materials like concrete, polymers, etc., a self-healing mechanism is crucial for the durability of the material. In this research, we present a two-dimensional mathematical model of the self-healing process in concrete. This mo...

Phytoremediation is a set of technologies that uses plants to clean up contaminated soils and groundwater. Phytoremediation is environmentally friendly, successful and cost-effective compared to other in situ methods such as the electrokinetic method. In this work, two local plant species, Chrysanthemum and Pelargonium, were examined for their ability to uptake lead from lead contaminated soils...

Clay content (fraction < 2 μm) is one of the most important soil properties. It controls soil hydraulic properties like wilting point, field capacity and saturated hydraulic conductivity, which in turn control the various fluxes of water in the unsaturated zone. In our study site, the Kairouan plain in central Tunisia, existing soil maps are neither exhaustive nor sufficiently precise for water...

Clay fractions in soils from a transect of the Mazama ash deposit (6600-yr-old) contained more than 80% amorphous material. Instrumental neutron activation analysis was used to compare the trace element composition of the soil clay with the unweathered volcanic glass. The clay fractions had only 10% as much Na as the volcanic glass. Conversely, the rare earth element concentrations were about t...

The clay and non-clay minerals have been identified by XRD analysis. The non-clay minerals include quartz, crystobalite, orthoclase, microcline, plagioclase, calcite, siderite and dolomite, and the clay minerals include kaolinite (52.39%), illite (36.39%) and illite-smectite mixed layer minerals (11.21%). Kaolinite is the most dominant component in the clay mineral assemblages. The clay mineral...

The Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity found host rocks of basaltic composition and alteration assemblages containing clay minerals at Yellowknife Bay, Gale Crater. On the basis of the observed host rock and alteration minerals, we present results of equilibrium thermochemical modeling of the Sheepbed mudstones of Yellowknife Bay in order to constrain the formation conditions of its second...

Column experiments were conducted to study chemical factors that influence the release of clay (kaolinite and quartz minerals) from saturated Ottawa sand of different sizes (710,360, and 240 microm). A relatively minor enhancement of clay release occurred when the pH was increased (5.8 to 10) or the ionic strength (IS) was decreased to deionized (DI) water. In contrast, clay release was dramati...

19 Clay-polymer composites were designed for use in filtration processes for disinfection 20 during the course of water purification. The composites were formed by sorption of 21 polymers based on starch modified with quaternary ammonium ethers onto the 22 negatively charged clay mineral bentonite. The performance of the clay-polymer 23 complexes in removal of bacteria was strongly dependent on...

Zr-PILC synthesis Two grams of a montmorillonite rich clay (for instance Bentonite CAS-No-1302-78-9) in 200 mL of water are stirred for a minimum of 2 hours, but preferably overnight. 50 mL of an aqueous 0.1 mol/L Zirconium(IV) oxychloride octahydrate (ZrOCl2·8H2O; CAS-No-13520-92-8) solution are then dropwise added to the clay dispersion (an isobaric dropping funnel can be used) under strong s...